[skowmunk]

very good article.. some incredibly powerful (yet simple) statements...

somehow... I think the nature of engagement with religion of the very intelligent 'believers in religion' is probably very different from the type of engagement of the typical beliver (in religion), baring the inevitable exceptions.

For a person who can distinguish between the 'good' and the 'bad' within the teachings of a religion, for one who likes to have some guidance(or examples) in how to behave 'morally' in different situations in life, there is a quite some good stuff in the teachings of most religions of the world. (I am most definitely not referring to the 'faith' part of the religion, here)

Moreover.. in spite of the many horrible things that religion has caused over ages, in the society, I think it can do more damage if 'religion' was completely removed from many socieities of the current age. Not all.. the more advanced and legally stably societies/civilizations can probably deal with its removal lot better than some on the other side of the spectrum.

I like to think, that it is becuase of recogonizing this, that some of the most intelligent people, capable of some of the most brilliant logic and strategies (read the biggest of business tycoons or the past and the best scientists) did a lot to promote religion.... I had to find a possible reason to why the heck such intelligent people would support religion.